FLINT, MI--This weekend, the Michigan Warriors hockey team had some furry friends - and a few extra hundred people - added to their usual audience.

For Saturday's game against the Jamestown Ironmen, the team
hosted its first "Pucks For Paws" event, welcoming attendees to bring their
pets inside of Perani Arena.

"There was a lot of positive buzz leading into the event," said
Jeremy Torrey, general manager of Perani Arena. "There are a lot of new fans
who haven't been to games before because this is something they can do with
their pet."

Regular ticket prices were the same as usual, while pet
admission was a donation to Adopt-A-Pet in Fenton. Attendees had the choice to
give money or pet supplies; Torrey was surprised that most people donated
between $10 and $20, or supplies like pet food, paper towel and sanitizer.

Other animal-related businesses, such as an animal masseuse
and Bark Avenue Pet Salon, were also there to spread the word about their
services.

Torrey said that 1,263 people attended the event. The season's
average is 984 attendees, which is up from 315 people from last season.

About 24 pets were registered: mostly dogs, a few cats, and
one rat. During the game's second intermission, a "pet parade" allowed audience
members to bring their animals onto the ice.

Andy McDowell went to the game with his family and his two
dogs, a yorkie named Maci and a huskie named Dakota. The family doesn't attend
very many games these days, but they participate in plenty of dog functions
such as the Renaissance Festival and the dog bowl in Frankenmuth.

"We were already coming because we had buy one get one free
tickets," McDowell said, "but the Pucks for Paws was even more incentive."

Dakota, he said, was enjoying the game as well.

"He likes the attention," he said. "It's a tail-wagging good
time."

Fenton resident Mark Loria's great dane, Carlo, had many of
the game's attendees turning their heads. He came to the game with his wife and
their three sons, one of whom plays on the Warriors' children's team. They attend
between five and ten games each season.

"We were going to come anyway, but this game was extra
incentive because they could bring the dog," Loria said. He then motioned
toward Carlo, who was hopping around and leaning against his leg.